SENTINELCELTS

Pre-season week is here, and of course Celtic (aiming to be world class in every area) are not ready. Thats actually an understatement, it’s utlerly shambolic not to have coaches entering Pre-season week nevermind new players.

We were told of a busy few weeks ahead two weeks ago, and its been a fortnight of silence. It took weeks of talking to reach an agreement instead of getting Shaun and Fozzie to sign the dotted line. That doesn’t auger well for our summer negotiations with potential signings and their agents. One third of the off-season completely wasted bar securing a manager, they very bare minimum a board must do.

They are asleep at the wheel and we can sense the crash coming.
Eyeing up.
In discussions.
Considering a move.
This is insane because we all know theres big cash arriving, they/he either can’t or won’t sanction moves armed with that knowledge? That certainly is holding the club back and this off-season so far is as much removed as possible from world class.

I think we are certain to break the 200m income barrier this year due to the big fees for our players, and probably CL money. It might be closer to 250m if many players depart. We’ve never been richer, more compliant with FSR, we’ve shed a ton of salaries. We will have over 100m in the bank when the window shuts.
Will we have a decent side?

If we don’t that will be the ultimate breaking of the social contract with the board of directors, we provide the money and you spend it.
Having heard the promises last year that lessons had been learned and improvement is around the corner, more promises just wont cut it.
The unity and truce found in the last few months of last season will be cast aside. If this window/start to the season is not just disastrous but seriously underwhelming, fan action will ramp up massively. It would be extremely unfair on Martin to foster the environment that would see his final ever campaign marred by disruptions and boycotts, depriving him of his special place and fully joyfull departure memories.

It need be thus, as well you know. Of course I hope we are getting our ducks in a row but I’ve been let down too many times holding onto that same hope. We did actually put in a bid, rejected as too little. The report said we bid 3.5m and they are firm on 4.3. Why did we not know? Couldn’t call? From a club that stood firm on Palma at 4.2 its cheeky and silly behavior.

I view Marcelo Scirrachi as a bit of a litmus test. At first I thought there’s no chance they will sanction two left backs on big wages but his reduced transfer fee changes the equation because our two million players are usually a punt, and there is now a path to profiting on the player when he leaves. They might swallow his wage demands easier but not only that its a no brainer to help Martin by signing a player who needs no introduction giving the gaffer more time to look elsewhere.
It’s said the manager wants him this week for a full preparation campaign, lets see if he gets his way, and access our urgency in the matter. This particular deal will give us a good insight into our world class workings.

Our title rivals working actually do look world class compared to ours.
The second placed team have 5 new faces ready for pre-season, strength in depth, and it looks like a Dutchman will get the hotseat meaning fast passing football. The new manager of the 3rd placed team wants to control the game from the middle of the park judging by his targetting of Ferguson. He’s clearly got 6 odd million to spend on a midfielder then. The 4th placed side went with a young manager also, the data was of the charts, he will have good knowledge and contacts in his home market and will have about ten million to spend extra when Just and Maswanise are sold. None of the above is good news. All those signs point to being if not challenged then left behind.

Shaun and Fozzie early, and a media deluge of Big Cam training again with a smile, alongside some words from the manager saying hes a big strong man and a very good option with good experience which he likes. The mainstream media saying we are closing in on someone while running an “about to get serious” narrative.
That’s my expectations for this week. One day the rapidly changing modern world will leave stale and stagnant Celtic in the dust, the more we stay the same, the sooner that day comes.
Our approach so far has been creating our own problems, what Brendan warned about.
Once again we are not bedding in players properly.
Once again we dice with CL qualification.
Once again it was all lip service and words without adjusting behind the scenes.

Without change there will come a day when a large number of the support say Im not supporting this regime once again. And every transfer window brings it closer.

By Mahe
sentinelcelts@gmail.com